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How can a character contribute to the development of depression?

There are general prerequisites underlying depressions, both related to a stressful situation and developing for no apparent reason. In the science of the “soul of man,” particularities of thinking and typical personality traits are known, contributing to the emergence of depressive ideas and their fixation in thinking.

Scientists have noticed that the majority of patients with depression before the illness had marked personal anxiety. Such people are sensitive in their relations with others, they subtly notice non-acceptance, rejection, are jealous of the attention of their loved ones. Since childhood, they may be timid and worry more in meaningful situations than their peers (for example, the answer at the blackboard at school, during exams). The experience of failures or grievances such individuals long stored in the memory.

With such a particular way of thinking, it is called ruminative, – thoughts about an unpleasant event spin in the head and the person longer than normal is fixed on what has been experienced.

The big fixation on the negative leads such people to the fact that they are trying to protect themselves and, as a rule, plan their day ahead. Where they go, what and how they will say or do – everything is repeatedly scrolled in the head and fixed in the “correct” order. Often they pre-write the to-do list and try to follow it clearly.

Avoiding all sorts of dangers contributes to the formation of a limited view of yourself and people (thinking “as if that didn’t work out”) hinders healthy learning, when a person is normal, getting into certain life situations, gets experience and knowledge, allows herself to develop further. Of course, this increases the risk of developing depression, when such a person finds himself in a situation to which he is not fundamentally ready.

Hence another characteristic feature – a special rigidity of thinking, which causes difficulties of unexpected switching from one business to another, because the latter is not included in the “plans”, is unfamiliar and alarming. This, incidentally, is associated with irritability over trifles, well known to the close circle of people with a similar character. Hot temper, grumbling is a direct continuation of anxiety.

With the ruminative thinking, the thoughts of an unpleasant event are steadily spinning in the head and the person lasts longer than normal, is fixed on the experience.

Another typical personality trait that increases the risk of developing depression is perfectionism. Of course, the desire to ensure that everything is done as well as possible, demanding of oneself in everyday life (cleanliness and order at home) and / or in deeds (careful fulfillment of one’s duties) is welcomed in our society and is considered a good trait of a family or exemplary worker. Scientists distinguish two forms of perfectionism: constructive and destructive. The difference between them is that in the second case people cannot accept the so-called “intermediate result”, they try so hard that they torture themselves and work hard. In addition to this, there is another feature – the crowding out (forgetting) of one’s own successes, dissatisfaction even with a perfectly accomplished deed. Such an attitude towards oneself, towards one’s work already in depressive states is transformed into a feeling of guilt, a reproach to one’s address, a feeling of hopelessness.

In the history of psychiatric science according to the classification of P. B. Gannushnkina has an idea of ​​two types of character, combining in one form or another the features listed above: psychasthenics and constitutional depressive personalities. The latter are also called obsessive-compulsive (from Lat. Obsessio – “obsession with an idea” or obsessive thoughts, and Lat. Compulsio – “coercion” or obsessive actions), as well as dependent or avoiding individuals).

Knowing about your character, its pros and cons helps people to work on themselves in a more creative way: broaden their horizons, plunge into unfamiliar situations and deal with their fears of the unexpected, solve problems on their own, give themselves an “objective” positive assessment and enjoy success. Such constructive thinking can help form a psychiatrist or psychotherapist during a psychotherapy session.

It is important to remember that even if depression has already developed or it has occurred in the past, it is never too late to pay attention to yourself, your character, and particular thinking. Psychotherapeutic work in remission (recovery period after a depressive episode), along with anti-depressive supportive treatment, is competent prevention of depression in the future.

Knowledge of your character

Knowing about your character, its pros and cons helps people to work more creatively on themselves.